Stamp-canceling machine



(No Model.)

s. CRANE. STAMP CANGELING MACHINE.

No. 585,621. Patented June 29,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SEYMOUR CRANE, OF DALTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STAM P-CANCELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,621, dated June 29, 1897.

Application filed September 30, 1896. Serial No. 607,376. (No model.)

tionf The object of my invention is to provide a postage-stamp-canceling machine in which a quantity of envelops bearing uncanceled stamps may be placed in the machine and may be automatically canceled and removed one by one from the machine.

A further object is to provide a machine in which the pressure of the envelops against the stamp-canceling roll may be maintained at the desired amount until the last envelop is canceled and removed therefrom.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the parts in the positions which they assume when a quantity of envelops are in position to be canceled. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the position which they assume when only a few letters are left, and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine with a quantity of letters shown in their position therein.

The body of the machine consists of a suitable bottom A and sides a ct, uprising therefrom. The bottom A is preferably made to slant downwardly toward the stamp-canceling roll by means of suitable spacing-legs a inserted under the end of the bottom A farthest away from the stamp-canceling roll. The chute formed by the bottom A and the sides a a, is of sufficient width to receive envelops of any width therein.

A false bottom A for supporting the envelops to be canceled is hinged at its forward end to the main bottom A at a point a and the said false bottom A is automatically forced upwardly to increase its degree of inclination as the weight of the letters decreases by means of a suitable spring B, inserted between it and the bottom A. The spring B is of SllflIlGlGlllJ strength to keep the envelops at all times pressing against the stamp-canceling roller.

The stamp-canceling roller is denoted by O and is mounted to rotate with a suitable axle c, which in turn is mounted in suitable bearings in the side walls a a of the chute near its forward end. The said axle c is provided exterior to the side wall ct with a suitable operating crank-handle c for rotating the said stamp-canceling roll. The stampcanceling roll 0 is provided near one end and part way around its circumference with a suitable canceling-die D and dating-die 01. These canceling-dies are in the present instance located near the side wall 0 in position to engage the stamps upon the envelops as they are presented one after another.

A suitable ink-supply roll E is mounted in position to supply ink to the face of the canceling-dies at every revolution of the stampcanceling roll C. The said ink-feeding roll E is held yieldingly at thelimit of its forward movement toward the dies, so as to press with the required degree of strength against the face of the said dies in the following manner: A swinging cross-piece or partition F is hinged at its upper end at f to the sides of the chute and in proximity to the face of the cancelingroll 0. The said cross-piece is provided with suitable ink-trough e, in which is mounted the ink-supply roll E. A suitable spring f is secured to one of the side walls-in the present instance the wall c--in position to yieldingly hold the said cross-piece in position to press the inking-roll E toward the face of the roll C. This spring-cushion f in the present instance is shown as ablock of rubber or other suitable yielding material.

I provide the stamp-canceling roll 0 with suitable means for positivelydrawing the front envelop of the stack out from its position at the same time that the canceling-dies are caused to engage the face of the envelop for canceling the stamp. The means shown in the accompanying drawings are series of pins or teeth G, located about the same distance around the circumference of the roll G as the dies D and d.

Suitable guards H are secured to the bottom A and have upwardly-turned ends h for keeping the envelops properly stacked in position along their lower edges and to prevent them from sliding'under the stamp-canceling roll.

A suitable weight I may be placed at the back of the stack of envelops in position to travel along down the inclined bottom A as the envelops are canceled and removed one by one.

In operation the envelops which it is desired to cancel are stacked Within the chute and upon the inclined bottom with their stamps in the proper position to be engaged by the canceling device on the canceling-roll C. If desired, the weight I may then be placed at the rear of the stack. The operating-handle c is then rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, the first part of the rotary movement of the handle causing the canceling-dies D d to be engaged with the inking-roller E for positively supplying them with the canceling-ink. The further rotary movement of the handle will cause the roller C to rotate around to a position where the canceling-dies will begin to engage the front envelop at a point near its top and middle portion. As the roll 0 is still further rotated the pins Q will begin to engage the envelop and positively draw it upwardly and forwardly as the canceling-dies travel along the face of the envelop and over the stamp or stamps thereon. The further movement of the roll 0 will eject the envelop entirely from the machine, when the next envelop will present itself into position to be engaged by the next revolution of the said roll. As the stack of envelops grows smaller the bottom A gradnumber of envelops and that it will readily receive envelops of any size Within reasonable proportions.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence Ido .not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth, but

What I claim is 1. A stamp-canceling machine comprising a canceling-roll, a chute for receiving a stack of envelops, the said chute having an incline bottom for directing the envelops fiatwise against the roll, and a canceling-die and envelop-withdrawing means carried by the roll in position to simultaneously cancel the front envelop of the stack and positively withdraw it from the stack as the roll is rotated, substantially as set forth.

2. A stamp-canceling machine, comprising a chute, a canceling-roll mounted therein, a bottom, upon which the stack of envelops is adapted to rest, hinged within the chute, and means for engaging said bottom for automatically increasing its angle of inclination as the stack decreases in size for directing the envelops against the canceling-roll with the required degree of pressure, substantially as set forth.

3. A stamp-canceling machine, comprising a canceling-roll,.a chute for receiving the stack of envelops and directing them against the roll, a canceling-die upon the roll, and a series of pins on the roll, the said pins and die being so arranged that as the roll is rotated, the front envelop of the stack is canceled and positivelyremoved, substantially as set forth.

SEYMOUR CRANE.

-Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. LEE, M. B. WARNER. 

